Method for packing garment hangers



May 21, 1968 J. H. BATTS 3,383,326

METHOD FOR PACKING GARMENT HANGERS Filed Oct. 21, 1965 INVENTOR. MON/U 84 6 Mgii w ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3.383,%26 METHQD FGR PACKING GARMENT HANGERS .iohn ll. Batts, Grand Rapids, Mich, assigncr to .iohn Thomas Butts, ind, Zeeland, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. %,(391 11 Claims. (Cl. 5326) ABSTRAQT (IF THE DISCLOSURE Method for packing articles such as hangers having a pair of diverging legs and an interconnecting bar consistin" of providing a holding member of a width slightly greater than the distance between the ends of the legs, inserting the member in bended position between the legs of a plurality of such articles positioned adjacent one another and forcing the member to a plane position for locking the articles rigidly in position with respect to one another.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for packing garment hangers for storage and shipment.

A satisfactory method for shipping garment hangers in quantity has not been discovered. If garment hangers are aligned with one another so that corresponding parts of the hangers touch each other, damage occurs during shipment. Mars, nicks and other damage resulting from the hangers rubbing against one another often will not be tolerated by the purchaser of the hangers. In many instances, this results in the individual packing of hangers in plastic bags, laying the individually wrapped hangers at ninety degrees with respect to one another and then placing them on top of each other in a box for shipment. This eliminates the damage referred to above, however, this is a very time consuming method of packing the hangers and consequently is very expensive. Further, it is time consuming and therefore expensive for the purchaser to unpack and unwrap the hangers. The person unwrapping such hangers is soon buried in a roomful of empty plastic bags and boxes.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved method for packing and shipping articles such as garment hangers.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a method which utilizes an apparatus uniquely adapted to receive rigidly secure the hangers in position one with respect to the other.

A further obiect of the invention is the provision of such a method, the steps of which are simple and noncomplicated, the entire procedure consuming very little time and therefore providing a considerable saving in packing and shipping expense.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a method which utilizes very inexpensive apparatus to secure and hold the hangers for shipment.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such a method which almost entirely automates the packing of garment hangers.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus of this invention adapted to rigidly lock a plurality of garment hangers in position with respect to each other;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus of this inven tion shown during the first step of the method thereof;

PK}. 3 is a cross-seetional view taken alo ng the plane Iii-HI of FIG. 2;

3,383,826 Patented May 21, 1958 FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, the apparatus of FIG. 1 shown as positioned in a further step of locking the hangers together;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 completely securing the plurality of garment hangers in locked position; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hangers completely packaged.

Briefly, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for packing articles for storage and shipment such as hangers having a pair of diverging legs and a bar interconnecting the ends thereof. It should be understood that within the broadest aspects of the invention, other articles having this configuration could be packaged according to the teachings herein. The method comprises the steps of providing a holding member of a width slightly greater than the distance between the ends of the hangers. The

iember is bendable along a line extending generally parallel to its edges. A plurality of hangers are positioned in alignment adjacent one another and the member is inserted in bended position between the legs of the hangers. The member is then forced to a generally plane position whereby the edges thereof bear against the ends of the legs and hold the hangers rigidly in position with respect to one another.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the reference numeral 1 designates a preferred embodiment of a holding member comprising one aspect of this invention (FIG. 1). The holding member 1 is preferably of rectangular configuration and fabricated from paperboard exhibiting considerable rigidity, yet capable of being compressed slightly under pressure at its edges. It has been found that conventional cardboard is a very suitable material to be used in the fabrication of the holding member. A fold line 2 extends generally parallel to and between the edges of the member ll. Fold lines 3 and 4 extend generally adjacent and parallel to the ends of the memher. The purpose of these fold lines will be more fully explained hereinafter. It will be noted that the member 1 is of extremely simple construction and there is absolutely no waste in the fabrication thereof because of its configuration.

In FIG. 2, an automated means 10 for packing the hangers is shown positioned at the place where the asernbly of the individual hangers is completed. The means 10 includes a pair of generally parallel supports 11 and a holding finger 13 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Stops 12 are provided on the supports 11. The means it) is adapted to receive and support garment hanger 26 which includes a pair of diverging legs 21 and a connecting rod 23 secured to the ends 22 of the legs 21. It will be seen in FIG. 3 that the supports l1 are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of the legs of the hanger whereby the hanger is supported thereon as the top of the legs rest against them. The supports 11 are sloped, whereby finished hangers may be positioned thereon, sliding down until engaging the stops 12 or an adjacent hanger (FIG. 2).

The holding member 1 is positioned between the supports 11 (FIGS. 2 and 3), the finger 13 holding the member in bended position along the fold line 2, enabling the hangers to envelop the member. When a plurality of hangers, for example about twenty, have thus been slid on the supports 11 and about the member 1, the hangers and the member are lifted from the means 13. As shown in FIG. 4, the member 1 is then forced to a plane position from being bended about the fold line 2. When forced to such a position, the edges of the member bear firmly against the ends 22 of the legs 21 of the hangers. This absolutely locks the hangers one with respect to the other because of the pressure created through the forcing of the member 1 to a plane position, the width of the member being slightly greater than the distance between the ends of the legs. This rigid locking effect is still greater when the member is fabricated from a material such as paperboard because the ends of the legs compress the edges of the member slightly, thereby preventing movement. The ends of the member 1 are then folded about the fold lines 3 and 4 as shown in FIG. 5, thereby enabling the holding member 1 to envelop the group of hangers locked one with respect to the other. The hangers and the member may then be wrapped in a flexible wrapping 3% as shown in FIG. 6.

It will be seen that this invention has provided a vastly improved method for the packing and wrapping of articles such as garment hangers. The use of the unique holding member 1 insures that the hangers are rigidly locked one with respect to the other. However, the hangers may be adjacent to each other, thereby utilizing the least possible space. The wrapping of hangers is almost entirely automated, eliminating the individual wrapping of the hangers. Great savings are experienced both in time and materials used. Further, this time is saved both in packing and unpacking the hangers. Most important of all, because the hangers do not move with respect to one another, the chances of damage are minimized.

While only certain steps and apparatus have been shown and described in detail, it may be possible to practice the invention through the utilization of certain other steps and embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. These are to be included as part of this invention unless the following claims specifically state otherwise.

I claim:

1. A method for packing articles such as hangers having a pair of diverging legs and a bar interconnecting the ends thereof, comprising the steps of providing a holding member of a width slightly greater than the distance between said ends of said legs and bendable along a line extending generally parallel to its edges, positioning a plurality of said hangers in alignment adjacent one another, inserting said member in bended position between said legs of said plurality of hangers, and forcing said member to a generally plane position whereby said edges thereof bear against said ends of said legs and hold said hangers rigidly in position with respect to one another.

2. A method for packing articles such as hangers having a pair of diverging legs and a bar interconnecting the ends thereof, comprising the steps of providing a paperboard holding member of a width slightly greater than the distance between said ends of said legs and bendable along a line extending generally parallel to its edges, positioning a plurality of said hangers in alignment adjacent one another, inserting said member in bended position between said legs of said plurality of hangers, and forcing said member to a generally plane position whereby said edges thereof bear against said ends of said legs and hold said hangers rigidly in position with respect to one another.

3. A method for packing articles such as hangers having a pair of diverging legs and a bar interconnecting the ends thereof, comprising the steps of providing a ho1ding member of a width slightly greater than the distance between said ends of said legs and bendable along a first line extending between and generally parallel to its edges and bendable along second lincs extending adacent and generally parallel to its ends, positioning a plurality of said hangers in alignment adjacent one another, inserting said member in bended position along said first line between said legs of said plurality of hangers, forcing said member to a generally plane position whereby said edges thereof bear against said ends of said legs and hold said hangers rigidly in position with respect to one another,

4 and bending said member along said second lines to lie over said bars of said hangers.

t. A method for packing articles such as hangers having a pair of diverging legs and a bar interconnecting the ends thereof, comprising the steps of providing a paperboard holding member of a width slightly greater than the distance between said ends of said legs and bendable along a first line extending between and generally parallel to its edges and bendable along second lines extending adjacent and generally parallel to its ends, positioning a plurality of said hangers in alignment adjacent one another, inserting said member in bended position along said first line between said legs of said plurality of hangers, forcing said member to a generally plane position whereby said edges thereof bear against said ends of said legs and hold said hangers rigidly in position with respect to one another, and bending said member along said second lines to lie over said bars of said hangers.

5. A method for packing articles such as hangers having a pair of diverging legs and a bar interconnecting the ends thereof, comprising the steps of providing a holding member of a width slightly greater than the distance between said ends of said legs and bendable along a first line extending between and generally parallel to its edges and bendable along second lines extending adjacent and generally parallel to its ends, positioning a plurality of said hangers in alignment adjacent one another, inserting said member in bended posiion along said first line between said legs of said plurality of hangers, forcing said member to a generally plane position whereby said edges thereof bear against said ends of said legs and hold said hangers rigidly in position with respect to one another, bending said member along said second lines to lie over said bars of said hangers, and wrapping said member and said hangers in a flexible sheet.

6. A method for packing articles such as hangers having a pair of diverging legs and a bar interconnecting the ends thereof, comprising the steps of providing a pair of generally parallel supports separated a distance less than that of said legs for reception of said hangers in inverted position with the tops of said legs resting on said supports, providing a holding member of a widt slightly greater than the distance between said ends of said legs and bendable along a line extending generally parallel to its edges, positioning a plurality of said hangers on said supports for alignment adjacent one another, inserting said member in bended position between said legs of said plurality of hangers, and forcing said member to a generally plane position whereby said edges thereof bear against said ends of said legs and hold said hangers rigidly in position with respect to one another on said member.

7. A method for packing articles such as hangers having a pair of diverging legs and a bar interconnecting the ends thereof, comprising the steps of providing a pair of generally parallel supports separated a distance less than that of said legs, said supports sloped downwardly for reception of said hangers in inverted position with the tops of said legs resting on said supports, providing a holding member of a width slightly greater than the distance between said ends of said legs and bendable along a line extending generally parallel to its edges, positioning a plurality of said hangers on said supports for alignment adjacent one another, inserting said member in bended position between said legs of said plurality of hangers, and forcing said member to a generally plane position whereby said edges thereof bear against said ends of said legs and hold said hangers rigidly in position with respect to one another on said member.

8. A method for packing articles such as hangers having a pair of diverging legs and a bar interconnecting the ends thereof, comprising the steps of providing a pair of generally parallel supports separated a distance less than that of said legs, said supports sloped downwardly for reception of said hangers in inverted position with the tops of said legs resting on said supports, providing a paperboard holding member of a width slightly greater than the distance between said ends of said legs and bendable along a line extending generally parallel to its edges, positioning a plurality of said hangers on said supports for alignment adjacent one another, inserting said member in bended position between said legs of said plurality of hangers, and forcing said member to a generally plane position whereby said edges thereof bear against said ends of said legs and hold said hangers rigidly in position with respect to one another on said member.

9. A method for packing articles such as hangers having a pair of diverging legs and a bar interconnecting the ends thereof, comprising the steps of providing a pair of generally parallel supports separated a distance less than that of said legs, said supports sloped downwardly for reception of said hangers in inverted position with the tops of said legs resting on said supports, providing a holding member of a width slightly greater than the distance between said ends of said legs and bendable along a first line extending generally parallel to its edges and bendable along second lines extending generally adjacent and parallel to its ends, positioning a plurality of said hangers on said supports for alignment adjacent one another, inserting said member in bended position along said first line between said legs of said plurality of hangers, forcing said member to a generally plane position whereby said edges thereof bear against said ends of said legs and hold said hangers rigidly in position with respect to one another on said member, and bending said member along said second lines to lie over said bars of said hangers.

10. A method for packing articles such as hangers having a pair of diverging legs and a bar interconnecting the ends thereof, comprising the steps of providing a pair of generally parallel supports separated a distance less than that of said legs, said supports sloped downwardly for reception of said hangers in inverted position with the tops of said legs resting on said supports, providing a paperboard holding member of a width slightly greater than the distance between said ends of said legs and bendable along a first line extending generally parallel to its edges and bendable along second lines extending generally adjacent and parallel to its ends, positioning a plurality of said hangers on said supports for alignment adjacent one another, inserting said member in bended position along said first line between said legs of said plurality of hangers, forcing said member to a generally plane position whereby said edges thereof bear against said ends of said legs and hold said hangers rigidly in position with respect to one another on said member, and bending said member along said second lines to lie over said bars of said hangers.

11. A method for packing articles such as hangers having a pair of diverging legs and a bar interconnecting the ends thereof, comprising the steps of providing a pair of generally parallel supports separated a distance less than that of said legs, said supports sloped downwardly for reception of said hangers in inverted position with the tops of said legs resting on said supports, providing a paperboard holding member of a width slightly greater than the distance between said ends of said legs and bendable along a first line extending generally parallel to its edges and bendable along second lines extending generally adjacent and parallel to its ends, positioning a plurality of said hangers on said supports for alignment adjacent one another, inserting said member in bended position along said first line between said legs of said plurality of hangers, forcing said member to a generally plane position whereby said edges thereof bear against said ends of said legs and hold said hangers rigidly in position with respect to one another on said member, bending said member along said second lines to lie over said bars of said hangers, and wrapping said member and said hangers in a flexible sheet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,105,313 l/1938 Cunningham. 2,347,319 4/ 1944 Hanset. 2,530,609 11/1950 Friedman 206-46 WILLIAM W. DYER, IR., Primary Examiner.

DONALD R. SCHRAN, Examiner.

N. ABRAMS, Assistant Examiner. 

